Listen to four response stories in one podcast.
From the May/June 2026 issue of response magazine.

response Magazine is a Continuation of Methodist, Evangelical, and United Brethren Women Telling Their Own Story for More Than 100 Years

This year marks the 47th anniversary of response magazine. It’s been published now for almost 50 years. But really, this magazine’s history goes back even farther: All the way to the beginning. The first issue of Heathen Woman’s Friend was published in June 1869, just three months after the founding of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, what is today United Women in Faith. This issue is a continuation of 157 years of Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren women telling their stories. ...

Seventy years ago this May 4, the General Conference of the Methodist Church granted full clergy rights to women when it met in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But even before that historic date, women had been shaping the life of Methodism with courage, devotion, and prophetic voice.

These months are filled with so many celebrations—Assembly, Mother’s and Father’s Day, graduations, preparation for Annual Conference, and Mission u gatherings across our United Methodist Church connection. I’m looking expectantly to connect with many of you in Indianapolis for Assembly 2026, “Dream it! Believe it! Do it!” We are going to have a glorious time of worship, fellowship, and learning together. If you are unable to join us, we will make available recordings and photos to share in the future.

The publication of mission study books has turned 125 this year. Exploring this history is a recently published book, Keyhole Missiology: Glimpses Into the History of Mission Study Texts: 1901-2026: The Role of Methodist Women and Their Successors Organized for Mission. This anniversary text was written by Glory E. Dharmaraj, Ph.D. and gifted to United Women in Faith.

Mission is such a big, beautiful word! But sometimes it can be a little confusing. These “Love in Action” maps have been renamed from “Mission Maps” because they offer just a glimpse of how members’ dollars are at work around the world, supporting programs that improve life and help empower women, children, and youth.

Day of Giving is our opportunity to gather together as one sisterhood in faith to thank God for the continued grace shown to United Women in Faith, by giving to ensure the future of our vital mission work to improve the lives of women, children, and youth at home and abroad.

For 25 years, Chantal (who is using a substitute name) has lived at Mary Elizabeth Inn, a United Women in Faith National Mission Institution in San Francisco, California.

March is Women’s History Month and time to celebrate the contributions of women from around the world. For me, because it is the birthday month of United Women in Faith, I celebrate all the women, now among the great cloud of witnesses—from our founders to all the leaders and members who cheerfully gave their time, talents, gifts, and service. Their love carries forth our mission and commitment to improving the lives of women, children, and youth.